u/LigalFF

Women’s football is booming: How does Werder plan to keep up?

An increasing number of major clubs are looking to make a significant mark on the Bundesliga. Werder is apparently in the process of spinning off its women’s football operations to attract new investors.

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The boom in German women’s football continues to grow. This coming summer, the independent Women’s Bundesliga (FBL) will launch, separating from the German Football Association (DFB). Over the next eight years, up to 800 million euros are set to be invested in the FBL to boost international competitiveness.

🇩🇪: https://www.butenunbinnen.de/sport/frauenfussball-bundesliga-werder-zukunft-100.html

This represents massive investment in a league where many clubs are still striving for profitability. Werder Bremen is one of them; here, too, the women’s football division is currently operating in the red. How does Werder intend to keep pace in the future?

Werder increases budget to 4.2 million euros

Werder’s women’s team broke records during the last Bundesliga season, achieving a tally of 43 points from 26 games—a feat unprecedented in the club's history. Keen to build on this success, the club raised its seasonal budget by approximately 700,000 euros, bringing the total to 4.2 million euros.

Even so, this amount will not be enough—a reality felt by other league rivals as well. For the 2024/25 season, the DFB reported record Bundesliga revenue of 43 million euros. However, the average revenue per club was 3.6 million euros, set against average expenses of 5.8 million euros.

Werder plans to spin off women’s football

To date, clubs have typically cross-subsidized their women’s football teams through their men’s departments—a model Werder Bremen also employs. However, with the league’s restructuring, many clubs aim to gradually end this dependency. According to reports by *buten un binnen*, Werder Bremen plans to spin off its women's football operations from the club's professional subsidiary into a separate entity to make it more attractive to investors. Werder has not yet officially confirmed the move.

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11 Werder departures with no transfer fees

Werder needs strong investors for its women's football program, as funds are already tight in the men's sector. Over the summer, the Bremen club parted ways with eleven Bundesliga players—receiving no transfer fee for any of them—while signing eleven new players. Werder itself emphasizes that it is "financially very well positioned" in women's football, according to Dominik Kupilas, the new head of the women's football department.

Kupilas says there is no concern that Werder Bremen might be left behind financially. However, the pressure is mounting. An increasing number of clubs that play major roles in men's football are pushing into the women's game.

More big clubs want to compete

Newly promoted sides Stuttgart and Mainz 05 have invested in their departments; consequently, Werder coach Friederike "Fritzy" Kromp believes they are "no longer the typical promoted teams we’re used to—the kind that might immediately find themselves fighting against relegation."

These are teams that want to compete in the Bundesliga—teams that make it even harder for rivals like Werder to hold their ground in the upper half of the table. Union Berlin has also increased its budget, while RB Leipzig and Eintracht Frankfurt are in a significantly stronger financial position than Werder.

Werder follows suit but still lags behind

Werder has long since felt the pressure. Last year, "Platz 11"—the small stadium serving as the home ground for the women's football team—was renovated. While the changing rooms now meet basic standards, other competitors are far more advanced in terms of professionalism regarding training conditions and infrastructure.

A second Bundesliga match is scheduled to take place at the Weser Stadium this season. However, Werder is proceeding very cautiously in this regard; clubs like Hamburger SV and Union Berlin play all their home matches in their main stadiums, thereby offering fans a sense of consistency.

Werder continues to need plenty of creativity

Coach Kromp would like to see the club's leadership show a bit more boldness in these matters. Consequently, she and her coaching staff currently have only one option when it comes to squad building: creativity. Lacking the necessary financial resources, they have to hope for the occasional stroke of luck in recruitment—something that seems to have paid off with the signings of Japan's Mei Shimada and Belgium's Elena Dhont.

It remains to be seen, however, how long the Bremen side can keep pace in the league following their strong start. The fact is that an increasing number of rivals are positioning themselves better than the Bremen club. Without a financial windfall, Werder will continue to need plenty of creative ideas to avoid falling further behind the big clubs."

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October 4, 2026, 11:56 AM

Reporting from Frankfurt am Main

Frank Hellmann

Twilight had long since settled over the Brentanobad stadium when many children and young people were still waiting by the barrier near the dressing room entrance following the Bundesliga top-of-the-table clash between Eintracht Frankfurt and Bayern Munich (0–1). On the other side, Klara Bühl was conducting television interviews. While broadcasters questioned Bühl, fans waited for autographs and selfies. Germany’s best forward had decided the match—a game with few clear-cut chances—in favor of champions Bayern, scoring shortly after a Frankfurt corner kick.

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Brilliantly set up by top Dutch talent Sophie Proost, Bühl smashed the ball into the corner with her left foot while at full sprint—"world-class style; that was the difference," remarked Frankfurt coach Niko Arnautis regarding the goal. His game plan had worked perfectly right up until the 0–1 goal (18th minute), though it saw no subsequent adjustments. Bayern coach José Barcala spoke of a "victory of maturity, mentality, and mindset." That was certainly true, as the Bayern side conceded hardly any chances, save for a header by Eintracht captain Laura Freigang (60th minute).

Yet the Munich team is managing to win these grueling encounters during a demanding stretch of the season primarily because Bühl is finding the back of the net. "It’s a great feeling; it boosts confidence," said the 25-year-old, who had broken the deadlock in the 74th minute of the Champions League away match against Benfica Lisbon (3–0) three days earlier.

"I’m incredibly happy when I can deliver a performance like that on the pitch. It’s not something to be taken for granted; I put a lot of work into it." The match-winner revealed with a broad grin that she planned to treat herself to a pizza to celebrate. The Bayern women are now unbeaten in 48 consecutive Bundesliga matches. Given their perfect record after six matchdays, it looks like they are cruising toward another dominant season.

A scare for Giulia Gwinn

The only downside was seeing defender Giulia Gwinn escorted to the team bus with a bandaged ankle; the DFB captain had rolled her left ankle, though Barcala offered reassurance: everything is fine—no serious injury. Even so, it remains uncertain whether Gwinn will make it to the team gathering in Heidelberg on Monday, when the German women's squad assembles for friendlies against Australia in Karlsruhe (October 9) and Japan in Bremen (October 13).

There are no doubts regarding Bühl, whom national team coach Christian Wück identified as a world-class player upon taking office, citing her ability to play equally well with both feet. However, she had previously failed to score in key matches—specifically the Euro 2025 semi-final against Spain (0–1 after extra time) and the Nations League final against the world champions (0–0, 0–3). Wück subsequently urged: "She needs to turn her quantity into quality. The frequency with which she takes on opponents one-on-one, beats them, and gets shots off is top-notch; now we just need the right decision-making." Moments like those in Lisbon and Frankfurt demonstrate this step in her development. And something Barcala likes to highlight: "How humble she is!"

The 78-time international is undoubtedly Germany's most valuable player. Had it been up to her agent, Jörg Neblung, Bühl would have exercised her release clause this past summer. However, she wanted to make one more attempt at winning the Champions League with FC Bayern. Now, the signs strongly suggest that the league's most defining figure will leave next summer. Essentially, her farewell tour is already underway, as there will likely be no further negotiations with Bayern regarding a contract extension.

Bühl recently told ZDF that there is no deadline: "Everything is still open. I can imagine anything. I feel very, very comfortable in Munich." Yet, staying is unrealistic. FC Barcelona had wanted to sign her for 2025 but backed out due to financial constraints.

Consequently, top English clubs are likely to outbid one another with salary offers, given that the player with the third-highest market value in the world (€1.65 million, according to the portal Soccerdonna) will be available on a free transfer after the 2027 World Cup in Brazil. Klara Bühl will be spoiled for choice—though attracting such interest has long been a part of her everyday life."

🇩🇪: https://taz.de/Bundesliga-der-Frauen/!6218589/

"As of: October 4, 2026, 11:59 AM

By: Frank Hellmann

FC Bayern won the top-of-the-table clash at Eintracht Frankfurt 1–0. Coach Niko Arnautis waited until the 83rd minute to make his second substitution.

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Judging by the initial reactions at the final whistle, it wasn't immediately clear who had actually won the Women's Bundesliga top match between Eintracht Frankfurt and Bayern Munich (0–1) at the Stadion am Brentanobad. The league leaders refrained from exuberant celebrations out of concern for their DFB captain, Giulia Gwinn, who had suffered an ankle injury; meanwhile, the chasing side felt that a high level of disappointment following a respectable performance was not justified.

The 5,750 spectators also seemed divided on the entertainment value of a high-profile match that saw few clear-cut chances. The fact remains that, after six matchdays, the standings present a familiar picture: the "Double" winners are five points ahead of the "Eagles." "It’s frustrating, of course," said coach Niko Arnautis. "I think we saw a lot of good things tactically. What we lacked was that final ball, that final cross." His team failed to capitalize on the few transition opportunities that arose.

Bayern demonstrated exactly how it should be done with the goal of the match, scored by Klara Bühl in the 18th minute: a corner kick came back to haunt the Hessian side like a boomerang. Top Dutch talent Sophie Proost outmaneuvered Frankfurt left-back Nina Lührßen, and then Germany’s best striker smashed the ball into the corner "in world-class fashion—that was the difference," said Arnautis."

🇩🇪: https://www.fr.de/eintracht-frankfurt/eintracht-frankfurt-verliert-topspiel-gegen-bayern-nach-altbekanntem-muster-94523679.html

"As of: October 1, 2026, 1:40 PM

By: Katja Sturm

Eintracht Frankfurt captain Laura Freigang is calling for greater consistency in the top-tier clash against reigning champions FC Bayern. The fact that the match is being held at the Stadion am Brentanobad requires some explanation.

It wasn't just pure joy that Laura Freigang felt when Eintracht’s women’s team secured their spot in the European Cup Round of 16; the Frankfurt captain also felt relief. While the 4–1 (0–1) result in the return leg against FH Hafnarfjördur was decisive, the team from Hesse—as has often been the case recently—struggled in the first half against the Icelandic side and had to turn the match around after falling behind.

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"We need to be bolder on the ball," urged Freigang, who—alongside Larissa Mühlhaus, Hanna Bennison, and Hayley Raso—scored the goals for Eintracht at the Stadion am Brentanobad. "We have the quality; you could see that in the end. But we’ve failed to show it often enough lately." Neither the players nor their coach, Niko Arnautis, are clear on the reasons why. They have less than three days to figure it out. When Bayern Munich visits the second-placed team for a top Bundesliga clash this Saturday (5:55 PM), Eintracht will need "two good halves"—as Freigang puts it—"to give the champions a real challenge."

She views the backing of the home fans as a major asset; based on advance ticket sales, the stadium in Rödelheim could be a sell-out with a crowd of 5,750, especially since the men's team is currently on an international break. Given that ARD is broadcasting the match, it is natural to wonder why Eintracht isn't moving this top-tier clash to the Waldstadion once again.

Katharina Kiel, Frankfurt’s Director of Women’s Football, notes that they "naturally considered" this option. However, the venue was unavailable: for an MMA event last Saturday, the pitch was covered with protective panels that are set to remain in place until a concert by singer Max Korzh on October 10. According to the club, a new hybrid turf will only be laid after that. When planning, the German Football Association (DFB) only checks the availability of the team's regular home ground at Brentanobad.

Furthermore, there was no way of knowing whether Eintracht might qualify for the Champions League league phase. In that scenario—and given that women's matches on such a grand stage are typically loss-making ventures and thus rare exceptions—the club might have preferred to host a Champions League duel there instead. Kiel emphasizes: "If the stadium is available and the conditions are right, we will continue to host selected matches at Deutsche Bank Park in the future."

Freigang has experienced "extraordinarily" special moments there in the past. "I’d be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy playing in big stadiums." But now, she wants to display her newfound sense of ease even without the massive crowds. The 28-year-old describes her call-up to the national squad as a "huge honor."

National team coach Christian Wück brought the forward back after a long hiatus, despite the lingering threat of a suspension for missing three doping tests. She has frequently proven this season that she "shows up when it counts and has a knack for finding the goal." Sometimes you are simply "in the flow," says Freigang—especially when she clears her head and "just does it." She has strong support in Larissa Mühlhaus, who “always keeps an eye out for me,” and her “lifeline” Ereleta Memeti, who served up all four of Freigang’s league goals. “I’m enjoying it, soaking it all in, and hoping it continues.” Ideally, starting this Saturday."

🇩🇪 https://www.fr.de/eintracht-frankfurt/laura-freigang-eintracht-frankfurt-braucht-zwei-gute-halbzeiten-gegen-bayern-94519994.html

Playoff Option on the Table

Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga

4 hours ago

The Women's Bundesliga is putting an end to its fragmented matchdays. As previously indicated, a major simulcast broadcast will be introduced on Sundays. A solution has also been found regarding Monday matches.

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As part of the Women's Bundesliga's restructuring, the FBL e.V. is advancing various initiatives. As the league officially confirmed for the first time on Wednesday, playoffs and relegation play-offs are under consideration for the 2027/28 season—a possibility *kicker* had already reported on in late July.

It has also been confirmed that Monday matches will be discontinued. With this move, the FBL aims to accommodate fans who have long opposed that scheduling slot. Currently, the seven matches of a Bundesliga round are typically spread across seven different time slots between Friday evening and Monday evening.

"Showcase Matchdays" During Men's International Breaks

Under President Katharina Kiel (Eintracht Frankfurt), the FBL has condensed the schedule for 2027/28 into three fixed kick-off times. The exact details are still subject to ongoing negotiations with potential TV rights holders. According to the FBL, the current preference leans toward Friday at 7:00 PM, Saturday at 1:00 PM, and Sunday at 2:00 PM. The Sunday slot is intended to feature five of the seven matches played simultaneously, enabling a major simulcast broadcast.

Furthermore, there are to be 37 matches per season broadcast on free-to-air television—significantly more than before. During the men's international match windows, so-called "showcase matchdays" are planned, further expanding free-to-air coverage.

The FBL general assembly is scheduled to decide on November 30 how and to whom the media rights for the next two seasons will be awarded. That meeting will also address the final decision regarding playoffs and relegation.

https://www.kicker.de/frauen-bundesliga-bestaetigt-fuenfer-sonntagskonferenz-ab-2027-28-1255418/artikel